We are thanking Jesus for His unmatchable kindness and generosity towards us today!
Um... I'm just going to get straight to the point and say... WE GOT THE HOUSE WE WANTED!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay, so you know how we got approved for less than the desirable amount and were having to look elsewhere? Well, we asked our Realtor, the brilliant Esther Greaves, if it would be stupid to put a REALLY low offer on the house we wanted. We had been approved for $125,000, so making an offer of that amount on a house originally listed at $175,000 is pretty laughable.
However, Esther said it wasn't stupid and that she would contact the sellers to see what they would be willing to do. Meanwhile, we searched for houses in the area that fell into our price-range, but we came away disheartened. Many of them were nice, but the problem still existed that nearly every house we looked at had the same amount of square footage as our current house (not ideal when you want to adopt a bunch of kids), and would require a whole lot of money to fix up.
Then we got the phone call from Esther. The sellers were willing to sell the house to us for $130,000 as-is if we would cover the closing costs! Evidently they had raised their kids in that house and really wanted to sell it to a family. They had poured their blood, sweat and tears into that house for a long time, and hated the thought of selling it to investors! The fact that we were a young growing family wanting to do the same with the house won their hearts.
So yesterday, we put a contract on the house, giving them 24 hours to decide before the offer would expire. At 2pm today, we got the text: THEY ACCEPTED OUR OFFER!!! We are blown away! We are hoping to close either on or before May 25th, but we just found out that we have to be out of our house the second week in May, which means we need about $4000 to cover closing costs, and a plan as to where we are going to stay before we can move into the house!
If any of you have any suggestions as to what we can do for a temporary living situation, we'd be more than open to hearing options. My in-laws live with us, so we need to figure something out for all of us.
It's a whirlwind, but we are so thankful and know the Lord is carrying us through this whole process. I don't know what to do with myself right now!
Carrie
p.s. if any of you have any extra medium to large size cardboard boxes for packing, I would LOVE to take them off your hands!:)
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
She Dumped Us
Well, we have both really good news and really sad news. First off, we finally heard from our lender yesterday afternoon. The Good News: We have been pre-approved for a loan! We're so thankful because this is something we would never have received apart from the grace of God.
The Sad News: because of the shortage in income for the past couple of months, we were not approved for the amount of the house we want. Rather than being approved for a $127,000 loan with a $20,000 down payment, we were only approved for a $125,000 loan.
The feeling is bitter-sweet. We are overjoyed at the thought that we somehow secured a loan without a co-signer. There are so many houses for sale in Grandview right now, that I am sure we will have no shortage of options. However, our momentary sentiments are that of someone who has just had the girl of their dreams break up with them. *Shrug* It will pass and there are always more "fish in the sea" so to speak, but every house we have looked at so far in the new price-range feels more like being on the rebound. The hard part now is finding a house with enough square-footage for the vision in our heart.
Yes, we are going to attempt the impossible and make a REALLY low offer on the house we originally wanted, but the fact that the seller initially listed it at $175,000 makes us an unlikely candidate for that house. We are still going to try it, but have resolved that we need to keep our options open and consider a house with less drama.
I am hopeful, however, that everything will work out better. The fact that we would not be neighbors to teenage gang bangers if we chose another house is an appealing option. There seem to be a lot of nice people in that neighborhood, but there is a substantial amount of unsavory characters as well. This is something we actually just noticed yesterday. It is both a good mission field, as well as a breeding ground for trouble when you are raising small children. So we're counting our blessings.
I can sigh with relief that we finally know where we stand with the loan, though. It feels good not to have to wonder anymore. As always, I will keep y'all updated with the latest if we happen to find a house we like.
The Sad News: because of the shortage in income for the past couple of months, we were not approved for the amount of the house we want. Rather than being approved for a $127,000 loan with a $20,000 down payment, we were only approved for a $125,000 loan.
The feeling is bitter-sweet. We are overjoyed at the thought that we somehow secured a loan without a co-signer. There are so many houses for sale in Grandview right now, that I am sure we will have no shortage of options. However, our momentary sentiments are that of someone who has just had the girl of their dreams break up with them. *Shrug* It will pass and there are always more "fish in the sea" so to speak, but every house we have looked at so far in the new price-range feels more like being on the rebound. The hard part now is finding a house with enough square-footage for the vision in our heart.
Yes, we are going to attempt the impossible and make a REALLY low offer on the house we originally wanted, but the fact that the seller initially listed it at $175,000 makes us an unlikely candidate for that house. We are still going to try it, but have resolved that we need to keep our options open and consider a house with less drama.
I am hopeful, however, that everything will work out better. The fact that we would not be neighbors to teenage gang bangers if we chose another house is an appealing option. There seem to be a lot of nice people in that neighborhood, but there is a substantial amount of unsavory characters as well. This is something we actually just noticed yesterday. It is both a good mission field, as well as a breeding ground for trouble when you are raising small children. So we're counting our blessings.
I can sigh with relief that we finally know where we stand with the loan, though. It feels good not to have to wonder anymore. As always, I will keep y'all updated with the latest if we happen to find a house we like.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Get On Your Knees and Fight Like a Man
To preface this post, I am completely delirious, which explains the ripped off title from Petra's long lost worst rock ballad of all time. My daughter was up from 9:00pm until 6:30am this morning, crying her brains out for one reason or another. I blame big prescription companies for that... as well as her third course of antibiotics to treat the same ear infection she's had for the last couple of months now. Most likely her tummy was outraged at the new meds. It just always feels better to blame prescription companies for almost anything, so that's what I do.
Oddly enough, I'm writing to give ya'll an update and prayer request for the latest situation with our house. Lots of ups and downs have happened since the last time I posted, but I'll spare you all of those. The short of it is that we are very close to getting pre-approved for the loan. I say that with no exclamation point because it seems as though each time we get excited about the good news, there's always something that overrides it, driving us to our knees. We're learning sobriety in our asking these days.
Our current prayer need is for everything to clear in regard to our income. We received the call from our lender just tonight that our credit, down payment, and income is approved for the loan. The last hurdle is that all of the information we have given the lender has to be researched and verified as true on all accounts. Of course we were honest and we told the lender all the numbers of what we make each month and year, but now he just has to go over all of the bank statements and W-2's to confirm. The only fly in the ointment is that we have had several supporters unable to send money for the last couple of months, which probably doesn't look so good. We are hoping this does not cause any problems since the has all the information confirming annual income.
Again, the short of it is that we just need favor for everything to look perfect. IF in fact we have no problem areas on the documents we submitted, we will be pre-approved for $127,000 with a down payment of $20,000, which adds up exactly to the listed price of the house we want. All of that to say, we could be placing an offer on our house in the next day or two, depending on how long it takes to review our income. We're excited and terrified all at the same time, because if the lender doesn't see the numbers adding up the way he wants, it will all be negated.
The moral of the story? PLEASE PRAY! We just found out two days ago that our current house will be put on the market on May 5th, and though it probably won't sell very fast, we need to get out of this house asap. Not only is it no longer healthy to be living here with mold and dust, but ATC crunch time has started, and we're asking you to agree with us in prayer that we would be able to get into the new house before June (yes, I'm aware of the fact that this would be a miracle). Once the summer hits, Zack will have no time to do any moving, and I will have very little time as well.
"Oooooh-OH we're half way there! Oooooh-OH livin' on a PRAYER!"
ha ha ha- Bon Jovi is now stuck in your head.
Soli deo gloria.
Oddly enough, I'm writing to give ya'll an update and prayer request for the latest situation with our house. Lots of ups and downs have happened since the last time I posted, but I'll spare you all of those. The short of it is that we are very close to getting pre-approved for the loan. I say that with no exclamation point because it seems as though each time we get excited about the good news, there's always something that overrides it, driving us to our knees. We're learning sobriety in our asking these days.
Our current prayer need is for everything to clear in regard to our income. We received the call from our lender just tonight that our credit, down payment, and income is approved for the loan. The last hurdle is that all of the information we have given the lender has to be researched and verified as true on all accounts. Of course we were honest and we told the lender all the numbers of what we make each month and year, but now he just has to go over all of the bank statements and W-2's to confirm. The only fly in the ointment is that we have had several supporters unable to send money for the last couple of months, which probably doesn't look so good. We are hoping this does not cause any problems since the has all the information confirming annual income.
Again, the short of it is that we just need favor for everything to look perfect. IF in fact we have no problem areas on the documents we submitted, we will be pre-approved for $127,000 with a down payment of $20,000, which adds up exactly to the listed price of the house we want. All of that to say, we could be placing an offer on our house in the next day or two, depending on how long it takes to review our income. We're excited and terrified all at the same time, because if the lender doesn't see the numbers adding up the way he wants, it will all be negated.
The moral of the story? PLEASE PRAY! We just found out two days ago that our current house will be put on the market on May 5th, and though it probably won't sell very fast, we need to get out of this house asap. Not only is it no longer healthy to be living here with mold and dust, but ATC crunch time has started, and we're asking you to agree with us in prayer that we would be able to get into the new house before June (yes, I'm aware of the fact that this would be a miracle). Once the summer hits, Zack will have no time to do any moving, and I will have very little time as well.
"Oooooh-OH we're half way there! Oooooh-OH livin' on a PRAYER!"
ha ha ha- Bon Jovi is now stuck in your head.
Soli deo gloria.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
in need of my Beloved
well, i haven't posted in awhile, and it seems there's a lull in other posts, so i figured i'd get my write on.
having 2 kids is BUSY i can't even imagine the day when i'll have more than 2 to watch and look after. most of the time i'm carrying nathanael around in my arms WHILE feeding him his bottle, getting kennedi onto the potty and off or helping her get a snack, or anything else for that matter. needless to say i'm POOPED most days. my husband is amazing and loves helping when he gets home, however at the same time, even when he's home a mother always carries most of the weight of responsibility of the kids just because that's the way we're made, even if he's doing all the busy work when he gets home.
I've struggled back and forth in my heart of spending time with the Lord alone by myself for ANY period of time at all. and actually, i've tried multiple different times to have zeal to do it and read the word every morning, but sleep most always gets the best of me and wins the battle. i just need accountability. you see, i'm a big "emotional decision maker" i get zeal about something based on an emotion i feel at the time and make big plans to do those every day like "ok, i'm going to do it, get up at 6, read a chapter in the OT then a chapter in the NT" "that's easy" then i do it for a week and it just slowly fades out. I HATE THIS about my tendencies, but there's gotta be a way to do it.
So tonight, after a LONG day with both kids, napping them at rach's house, playing in the pool with them, doing laundry the entire time i was there, etc. i was TIRED. ben and i sat down to eat leftovers and i said "babe, i just need some time with the Lord! i need Him. I can deal with tired physically and just push through, but my heart is dead and that means i can't do it physically either now" with that said, and both of us agreeing that we both need to start exercising. i am going to have accountability through him. we're going to wake up 3 times a week together, exercise together then he'll get ready for the PR while i go to the living room and spend time with the Lord. the other mornings we'll both get up at the same time and have breakfast together and then i'll spend time with the Lord while he gets ready. i'm hoping that this works.
i am needing a lifestyle change because i want to be a reflection of christ through the day and feel his love and love Him well in return and the only way to become is to behold. Lord give us all grace this week to find the secret place to dwell in with You.
Bekah
having 2 kids is BUSY i can't even imagine the day when i'll have more than 2 to watch and look after. most of the time i'm carrying nathanael around in my arms WHILE feeding him his bottle, getting kennedi onto the potty and off or helping her get a snack, or anything else for that matter. needless to say i'm POOPED most days. my husband is amazing and loves helping when he gets home, however at the same time, even when he's home a mother always carries most of the weight of responsibility of the kids just because that's the way we're made, even if he's doing all the busy work when he gets home.
I've struggled back and forth in my heart of spending time with the Lord alone by myself for ANY period of time at all. and actually, i've tried multiple different times to have zeal to do it and read the word every morning, but sleep most always gets the best of me and wins the battle. i just need accountability. you see, i'm a big "emotional decision maker" i get zeal about something based on an emotion i feel at the time and make big plans to do those every day like "ok, i'm going to do it, get up at 6, read a chapter in the OT then a chapter in the NT" "that's easy" then i do it for a week and it just slowly fades out. I HATE THIS about my tendencies, but there's gotta be a way to do it.
So tonight, after a LONG day with both kids, napping them at rach's house, playing in the pool with them, doing laundry the entire time i was there, etc. i was TIRED. ben and i sat down to eat leftovers and i said "babe, i just need some time with the Lord! i need Him. I can deal with tired physically and just push through, but my heart is dead and that means i can't do it physically either now" with that said, and both of us agreeing that we both need to start exercising. i am going to have accountability through him. we're going to wake up 3 times a week together, exercise together then he'll get ready for the PR while i go to the living room and spend time with the Lord. the other mornings we'll both get up at the same time and have breakfast together and then i'll spend time with the Lord while he gets ready. i'm hoping that this works.
i am needing a lifestyle change because i want to be a reflection of christ through the day and feel his love and love Him well in return and the only way to become is to behold. Lord give us all grace this week to find the secret place to dwell in with You.
Bekah
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
